Date: Thu, 18 Apr 96 09:12:04 GMT
Subject: Women's oppression



Ryan Daum writes ( was Re:class and individuals ):
> 
> That might require certain socialist groups to have more than a passing,
> arrogant attitude to the women's struggle, and make them take socialist
> feminism seriously: i.e. admitting that women's liberation is not the same
> struggle as anti-capitalist struggles and, precisely because most working
> class men are bigger sexist assholes than most middle and ruling class
> women, class unity can only be achieved while and after women have the
> right and power to their own autonomous organizations: i.e. socialist
> feminism and not watered down and patronizing "women's liberation" in a
> man's organization.
> 

I agree that socialists need "to have more than a passing, arrogant attitude
to the women's struggle".

We cannot simply say that because a particular battle, say for abortion
rights, does not involve strike action by men and women, that this is
not class struggle and therefore we don't have anything to say about it.
Oppression of women, as of gays, or racism, need to be specifically taken
up and fought against, at work, on the streets, wherever, whether it is
simply challenging attitudes or fighting for particular demands ( or
more often nowadays, against particular attacks ) against the state
or an employer.

Of course, some working class men are sexist. However, whatever the private
attitudes of ruling class women in particular, and despite the sexism that
those women face in their daily lives, they undoubtedly benefit from the 
system that creates womens oppression. Their class does not want to provide
free child care, their class wants to continue to pay women 2/3rds what men
get, their class benifits from the divisions created by sexist ideas.

This means that any particular campaign gets toned down to keep these 
women on board. In particular, trade union banners, even when carried
by women, are not welcomed on demonstrations, or, if they are, are
hussled to the back of the demonstration. Demonstrations organised
by Labour Party women have Liberal Democrat speakers. The "feminist"
opposition to creches at work is also a reflection of these interests.

On the other hand, there is a socialist strategy. The theoretical basis
of this is that working class men have an interest in fighting against
womens oppression. In practise, it means anti sexist men and anti sexist
women arguing with workers to actively fight against oppression. There
is often resistance to this, both from more backward workers and from
Trade Union officials, who USE FEMINIST ARGUMENTS.

The argument over abortion in the UK is a good exmaple of this. Between
the mid 60's and today, socialists have won an argument that abortion is
a class issue, so that today it is easy to get Trade Unions to call and
organise transport for demos against attacks on abortion rights. Also,
there was considerable opposition to clause 28, an attack on Lesbian +
gay rights, from Trade Unions.

In practise, mobilising the power of the working class as a class is
the most effective power in fighting against sexism, whatever difficulties
( and these should not be over exaggerated ) this poses.

Adam.

PS.

To suggest to any female member of the SWP that they have a "watered 
down" approach to women's liberation, or that they are in a "man's
organization" , is liable to put you in physical danger.

Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


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